Holmes Merchants of Belfast

Re: Holmes Merchants of Belfast

Richard, This is most interesting. James Holmes and his elder brother John were successful Belfast Merchants, resulting in James acquiring Ballymenoch House, which was a substantial property. James married Jane Davis, b. abt. 1762, d. of James Davis, and was in partnership with her brother Robert Davis. Their eldest daughter was Anna Maria Holmes b. 17 6 1783, and she seems to be the wife of John Hanson of Colraine. My great great grandfather was Frederick Holmes, her brother. James seems to have had financial problems as Ballymenoch House in 1795, and he subsequently visited America, where he was appointed the first US Consul in Belfast, and returned in 1795.

I have quite a bit of information about the Holmes family if that is of interest to you. I know nothing about the Hansons, but Anna Maria had two further siblings, Frances, who. m. 9 8 1822 to James Coates and Sidney (F), who married James Gammell in 21 9 1825, and moved to Scotland with a substantial family.

I have quite a lot of information on the various branches, if you are interested, and I have some of the antecedents of James and John. I was assisted by Heather Flanders, who is an experienced Belfast researcher, as it is difficult to find records on the internet as the family were dissenters.

It is probable that we should communicate direct. Are you in England? Robert Stedall